HIST 219 Chapter Notes - Chapter 01-26: Sephardi Jews, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch
Document Summary
In late 1300"s/early 1400"s, great violence in iberian peninsula pressured many jews into converting to catholicism. Beginning of the last century of the spanish jewry. Tho jewish communities did rebound and contribute culturally/economically b4 the final expulsion. Ironically, iberian jews were starting to identify more and more w their respective spanish kingdoms. Jews were defined in medieval era as being urban minority w distinct legal code that set them apart from most peasant serfs. Christian relig authorities" decrees did not really come into conflict w jewish values--both agreed on separation from the other. But in reality, jews/christians intermingled a great deal, both in high and low society, and especially in spain/italy. Ashkenaz jews tended to b more traditional/subservient to rabbinic authority. Howev there was still some cultural exchange, econ re: relig ritual. Late 1300"s wave of conversion in iberia created class of marranos aka converts. Movement was driven by local relig figures--crown tried to defend jews.
